. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/W/201 
16 June 2006  
 (06-2937) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
PROPOSAL FOR PREVENTING UNDUE DELAYS IN THE ENTRY OF 
ANIMALS, PLANTS AND THEIR PRODUCTS 
 
Communication from Colombia  
 
  The following communication, received on 14 June 2006, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Colombia.  
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 A. B
ACKGROUND  
1. Undue delays affect the trade principles and pr ocedures set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
Annex C of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. 
2. Undue delays occur most frequently in entry procedures for animals, plants and their products 
and are inconsistent with the provisions of the Agreement. 
3. Several Member countries have expressed th eir views on this matter, including Uruguay, 
which in October 2004 submitted the document entitled "Undue De lays" (G/SPS/W/160) to the 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. 
4. The document submitted by Ur uguay highlights the reasons fo r undue delays and indicates 
that, in terms of the entry of products, these incl ude the risk assessments required for laying down 
specific product entry conditions, the taking of decisi ons regarding the recognition of equivalence and 
the establishment of control, inspec tion or approval procedures.   
5. The issue of undue delays has been extensiv ely discussed at this year's meetings of the 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Member countries were  recently urged to 
submit proposals on the subject. 
B. C OLOMBIA 'S PROPOSAL  
6. For the above-mentioned reasons, Colombia w ould like to submit the following proposal on 
procedures to prevent undue delays. 
 (i) The exporting Member country must submit a formal request to the importing 
Member, making clear its interest in exporting animals, plants or their products. 
 (ii) Within a period not exceeding 30 da ys, the importing Member must provide the 
exporting Member with information detailing the steps to be taken and requirements G/SPS/W/201 
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to be met for the product's entry into the country and indicating the approximate length of time required for each step. 
 (iii) The exporting Member must send all the information required by the importing 
Member through the channels agreed upon by the parties or through those indicated by the importing Member. 
 (iv) When the process begins, the Member countries must notify the WTO of the 
situation. 
 (v) The importing Member may request furt her information on specific points whenever 
it deems necessary.  Should additional in formation be required, the importing 
Member will inform the exporting Member of this need within a period of no more 
than 60 days following the date when the documents were initially received. 
 (vi) Should the importing Member require an on-site visit to the exporting Member, it 
must so inform the exporting Member and suggest a date for the visit. 
 (vii) The on-site visit must take place with in a period of no more than three (3) months 
following due receipt of the information. 
 (viii) Once the risk assessment or procedures agreed upon by the parties have been carried 
out, the results must first be made known and discussed with the exporting country.  
 (ix) Once the procedures required by the importing country have been finalized, the 
latter  will have a period of 30 days in wh ich to inform the exporting country and the 
WTO of its decision and of the length of time needed to allow the entry of animals, plants and their products into its territory. 
 (x) Should the exporting Member's request be rejected, the importing country must 
provide the technical and scientific reasons for its decision. 
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